Tories and BNP join battle for Pemberton

ALL candidates have now been declared for Wigan’s only political poll of the year.

The final listing for the Pemberton by-election reveals that the official Wigan Independent Network (WIN) opposition have decided not to stand ... although the controversial British National Party is to again field its veteran Wigan campaigner.

Voting for the safe Labour seat - left vacant following the death of Coun Barbara Bourne in January - will be held on Thursday, April 4.

The Conservative Party candidate is retired Jonathan Cartwright who has stood for the Tories in Pemberton on a number of occasions including in last May’s local elections.

Mr Cartwright is well versed in borough politics, being the widower of late Conservative councillor Susan Cartwright, who served Swinley for four years in the 1990s. He has a number of connections with the ward as his mother-in-law lives in Kitt Green and he also regularly attends events at the Church of St Francis of Assisi.

Mr Cartwright said: “The election should be first and foremost about electing a councillor to represent the people of the Pemberton ward.

“In this election I will be focusing on those local issues that matter to local people such as the rise in council tax and car parking charges that the Labour-controlled council have just agreed.

“The closure of the tip at Orrell means that residents have no where convenient to take their waste.

“As councillor I would also want to promote Pemberton town centre to ensure that we keep the local traders who are vital to the local community. I know that my political opponents will be running negative campaigns on national issues, but I would urge voters in Pemberton to look at what is happening locally and how the town is being run by the Labour Party.”

Platt Bridge drain cleaner Dennis Shambley will again be representing the right wing British National Party.

He is an ex-Royal Marine Commando and Navy boxing champion.

Mr Shambley was the BNP’s first ever general election candidate, when he fought Labour former cabinet minister Sir Ian McCartney for the Makerfield seat in 2001.

His campaign will be fought on employment, jobs and prosperity plus immigration.

Leader of WIN, Coun Gary Wilkes, said: “WIN is not one of your traditional parties, we will not put up a paper candidate or parachute a candidate in just for the sake of it. We have too much respect for the constituents of Wigan and Leigh.

“Nevertheless, if an independent wanted to stand who lived in the ward then it would be a different kettle of fish, but WIN will not stand just for the sake of it like other parties have done in the past.”